Why is it cold in winter?
The Earth is a little bit tilted, like a leaning spinning top.
Pip’s answer
- The Earth is a little bit tilted, like a leaning spinning top.
- As it travels around the sun, your half leans toward the sun, then away.
- Leaning away means less sunshine, so it gets cold, brrr. That is winter, buddy!
For grown-ups
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees. As Earth orbits the sun, your hemisphere spends part of the year tilted toward the sun (longer days, more direct sunlight: summer) and part tilted away (shorter days, slanting sunlight: winter). Seasons are not caused by Earth being closer to or farther from the sun.
Ask your child: Do you notice the days getting shorter or longer this time of year?
More questions kids ask
- 🌨️Why are snowflakes shaped like stars?
- 🍂Why do leaves change color?
- 🌙Why does it get dark at night?
- 🌤️Why is the sky blue?
- 🌅Why are sunsets orange?
- 🌈Why are there rainbows?
Got your own why?
Hold Pip, ask anything out loud, and watch the answer come to life.
Ask Pip your own question